The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-04-09
The Sunday Sehoo1.
LESSON FOR APRIL II, 1887.
JOSEPH MAKES HIMSELF KNOWN.
fGenesis xiv. lib
The FAMINE.
BY REV. ROBERT t. POLK.

After the seven years of great fertility and
superabundant haryesta, when Joseph accu-
mulated by wise prudence an incalculabie
quantity of produce in the royal granar1es
which he had caused to be provided in all the
towns of Egypt, there followed, as he had In
terpreted Pharaohs dream to predict, Pc
Rod of dearth and scarcity which not only
affected the land of Egypt, but extended to
Canaan and the regions round about. The
waters which filled the banks of the Nile
to OVERLOOKING having the came origin as the
showers that refreshed the valleys of Canaan,
a drought there might naturally occur when
there was long continued dearth in Egypt.
The OVERLOOKING of the Nile, to which Egypt
is indebted for its fertility. Is produced by
torrents of rain falling III the alpine regions
of Abyssinia, which proceed from clouds
formed in the Mediterranean and earned
thither by the wind; consequently 1t has
common origin with the rains OF Palestlne.-
KeiI and DeIitzSch, Commentary on the
Pentateuch."
As the famine increas ed, the granafles OF
Egypt became the food supply OF all VINO
came bither to buy. In the second year
Jacob sent his sons 10 Egypt to buy grain,
that his family might not be reduced to star
walton. Benjamin, the youngest and only
remaining child of his beloved Rachel, alone
remained with his father, Jacob fearing that
some calamity might befall him, as had over
taken Joseph, if he went with his brethren.
Joseph. being the "ruler over the land, and
the head of the department of government
that dispensed the grain, his brethren ap-
peared before him and Frustrated themselves
as the sheaves and stars had done in his
dreams (xxvii. Gid. Joseph recognized his
brethren, but they did not know him. Iwen-
ty two years had passed since their separa-
ton at the wells of Dothan. Joseph was then
a youth of seventeen. He had become the
chief officer of great nation and was in the
prime of a noble manhood. They appeared
in the simple dress and manners OF their
sbepherd life, and may not have charged
much. having been full grown men when 10
seph left them to go into slavery, the mer-
charitable property of the Arabian traders.
Joseph determined by severe test to dis
cover their real feelings concerning their
wicked treatment of himself, and their dis
positjon toward both their father and their
youngest brother, Benjamin, who was now,
no doubt, the cherished and favorite son, as
he had been-the cause of their Jealousy,
hatred and wickednesP. By various expedi-
ents, and after demanding that Benjamin
should be brought into his presence (Read
xiii. 9-xliv.) Joseph discovered that his breth-
rem cherished the tenderest flial affection
toward their father whom they had so wick
eddy and sorely distressed, and the most de
voted fraternal love and fidelity to his favor
ite son, the pride of his heart and the solace
of his declining years, and that they were bit
terly sorrowful and penitential in their feel
ings toward him whom they had hated with
murderous intent, and for envy had sold into
bondage Having discovered all this Joseph
could no longer have any righteous motive
for concealing his identity, and SO with deep
emotion and in the most affectionate man
ner he declared himself unto them.
The change of the spirit of the brethren is
remarkable. When the fathers partially
for Joseph was evident, their minds were
filled with envy, which led them to thoughts
of murder and to acts OF gr1evous wrong.
This was without care for their fathers feel
ipgs, of which, perhaps, they formed no con-
ception, as they did not of the consequences
to themselves If they experienced heavy
weight upon their conscience, they had learn
ed a salutary lesson. The man who coun-
selled the sale of Joseph as slave, now prof
fered himself as a substitute of Benjamin, his
fathers darling, perhaps dearer than Joseph,
because of the loss of Joseph; not only the
youngest of the family, but the only remnant
of Rachel's children. The consequences of
their sin upon themselves had bettered them.
Envy had given way to flial regard, and they
were ready for any sacrifice, SO that their ia
Their might not be afflicted as he had been by
their act in Joseph's case.-G. l.. DenldreSt,
ID. D., s. S. HELPER, November. 1850.
After this appeal, in which Judah, speak
ing for his brethren, had shown the tenderest
affection for the old man who had been bowed
down by their sin, and the most fraternal
love and fidelity to the only remaining son
of his beloved Rachel, and had given sutf-
Gent proof of the change of his mind, the
true conversion, that had taken place in
themselves, Joseph could not restrain him
self any longer in relation to all those who
stood round him. He was obliged to relin-
quish the part which he had hitherto acted for
the purpose of testing his brothers hearts,
and to give full vent to his feelings.-KeH
and DelitzscR.